Awning structure



Oct. 1, 1929. o. 1.. MOELLER AWNING STRUCTURE Filed April 26, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet Inventor Oct. 1, 1929. o, MQELLER 1,730,085

AWNING STRUCTURE Filed April 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l 41 v 4 5 5.

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Inventor 0. ii. jifoeZZc z;

Attorney Patented Dot. 1, 1929 most PATEN OTTO L. MUELLER, OF MOBERLY,MISSOURI AWNING STRUCTURE Application filed April 26, 1928. Serial No.272,960.

ture being adjustable to accommodate Various widths of window frames.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide anawning structure which is particularly adapted for use upon the windowframes of the doors of an automobile of the closed type, the awningbeing supported on the window "frame in such a manner as not tointerfere with the opening or closing of the sliding window pane and tofurther permit the pane to be moved to an entirely closed position.

A still further object is to provide an awning structure of the abovementioned character, that can be readily and easily attached on a windowframe, without necessitating any alterations of the parts of the window,the device being readily removable.

Still a further object is to provide an awn ing structure of the abovementioned character, which includes a means for maintaining the swingingframe with which the covering of the awning is associated in a loweredoperative position, additional means being provided for maintaining theawning frame in a raised inoperative position.

A further object is to provide an awning structure of the abovementioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive,strong and durable, and further well adapt ed to the purpose for whichit is designed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the nature of theinvention pro-' ceeds, and when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings. 7

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views: j

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a window frame, showing my improvedawning structure mounted thereon, the same being disposed in a loweredoperative position.

Figure 2 is an edge elevation of the window frame showing my improvedawning structure mounted thereon, the latter being shown in a loweredoperative position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken approximately on the line3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section, taken approximately on the line 4 ofFigure 1,

looking downwardly.

Figure 5 is a similar section, taken approximately on the line 5-,5 ofFigure 1, for more clearly disclosing the adjusting means for the sidebars. i v

Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken approximately on the line 66 ofFigure 1, and

Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken on the line 77 of Figure 6.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a windowframe, in which is slidably mounted thewindow pane 2 in the usualmanner. The window pane is operable within the usual groove 3, formed inthe sides of the window frame, and the top of the window frame is alsoformed with a groove 4, for receiving the upper edge of the slidingwindow'pane when said window pane is in an entirely closedposition.

Within each window groove is a felt packing, shown at 5. My improvedawning structure is designed to be mounted on the window frame, on theoutside of the window pane and between the felt packing and the outersides of the grooves, as will be presently described in detail. v

The awning structure includes. a pair of channel shaped side barsdenoted by the numerals 6 and 7 respectively, the same being disposedvertically, adjacent the respective sides of the window frame, and as isclearly shown in Figures 2 and 6,'the intermediate portions of the sidebars are disposed in spaced relation with respect to the outer face ofthe respective sides of the window frame The upper ends of these sidebars are adjustably connected together in parallel spaced relation withrespect to each other, and the connecting means includes a pair of rods8 and 9 respectively, the outer ends thereof being flattened and securedto the upper ends threaded sleeve or turnbuckle 11, the-same beingformed with a series 0f-0penings12: to

receive an actuating implement, whereby when said turnbuckle or sleeveis rotated, i

the oppositely threaded rods will be moved either inwardly or outwardlywith'respect'to each other, thus facilitating the adjustment of' thesidebars 6 and 7, dependent upon the width of'the particulariframe, withwhich the awning structure'is to be associated: I

A horizontally extending channel shaped strip 13 has its opensidefacingithe front of the awning'structure'and this channel shapedstrip is located directly in the rear of the longitudinally adjustableconnecting means between the upper ends of the side bars 6 and 7.

Slidable'in the end portions of this channel shaped strip 13 aretheelongated narrow blade-like fittings l4 and 15' respectively. Thefitting 14 is securedto the'rear face of'the flattened end of the rod '8andtthe opposite fitting is secured to the rear face of the flattenedouter end of the complementary rod 9 and the outer ends of thesefittings are adapted to project into the side grooves 3, be tween theouter face of" the felt packing and the adjacent side of the groove, atthe top of the window'frame, and manifestly, byturning the turnbuckle orsleeve 11 in one direction, the outer'end's of the fittings will bebrought into frictional engagement with the bottoms of the respectiveside grooves 3, whereby to positively secure the side bars at theirupper ends in the window frames, on the outside of the sliding windowpane 2.

A slotted blade like fitting 16 is adjustably secured on the lower endof the side bar 6, by the bolt and nut connection shown at 17, the sidebar 6 being formed at its lower end'with an inwardly directed fiatextension 18. and this fitting is slidable across the rear face of theextension and the side bar G and theouter end of this fitting isadapted, to enter the adjacent window groove between the felt packingandv the outer side of said groove;

A similar fitting 19 is adjustably associated with the lower end of thecomplementary side bar 7 for engagement at its outer end with the windowgroove and the other side ofthe window frame, and-when the bolt-and nutconnections are properly connected, the outer ends oftheselowerfittingswillalso fixedly engage with thebottioms of the respectivesid'egrooves to further support the side bars. of the awning-structure in arigidpositi'on.

A pair of forwardly projecting apertured cars 20 are formed on the edgesof the sides of the channel shaped bar 6, adjacent the lower end portionthereof, a similar pair of apertured ears projecting from the forwardedges of the sides of the other side bar 7, and these pairs of ears 20and 21 are disposed in horizontal alignment with each other, as clearlyindicated in the drawings. The awning structurefurther includes theprovision of a substantially: u-shaped awning frame that consists offour sections. The crown or base portion of-th is U-shaped frameincludes the overlapping channel shaped sections 22 and 23 respectively,the" innermost section 22 being formed with anopening in the centralportion 'thereof'and is adapted to communicate with a slot 24 formed inthe bottom of the channel 23 to accommodate a bolt 25, on thethreaded'end of which is threaded the nut 26,.

whereby to adjustably secure these sections together. As clearly'shownin the drawings, the free edges of the sides of the channelshaped'sections 28 have serrated surfaces for the purpose to'bepresently described. The outer end's ofthehorizontally disposedoverlappingsections are bent inwardly at right angles'as shown at 28 and29 respectively, with reference more particularly to Figure 7.Cooperating with the inwardly directed endportions 28 and 29 are thechannel shaped arm sections 30 and 31 respectively, the arm sectionsbeing wider than the rearwardly disposed outer ends of the horizontalcrown forming sections 22 and 23, so as to receive said rearwardlydisposed ends, and a slot 32 is formed in the base portion of each ofthe channel shaped arms, through which extends a bolt3'3, the threadedend projecting through an opening formed in the adjacent channeled endsofthe crown forming sections 22 and 23, and the nut'34 and'receives thethreaded end ofea'ch bolt'33, and is formed with a hook 35, as is moreclearly shown in Figure 2. The purpose of this particular constructionwill also be presently described;

The=inner end of thechannel'shaped arm section 30 is flattened anddisposed vertically as shown at86, andthis flattened end portion isrounded at its extremity and is furthermore formed with a longitudinallyextending slot 37s The inner end of the other channel shaped armsection-31 is also flattened as illustrated at 38, and the extremitythereof is rounded. Also, this flattened end portion38 is formed with alongitudinally extendingslot 39.

A'pivot forming bolt 10 extends through the apertured ears 20, formedonthe sidearm 6-and? through the. slot 37 in the inner fiattened end 36of the arm section .30.- A similar bolt 4=l projects through theapertured ears 21, associatedwith the'sidebar'7, and through-the slot 39formedin theflattened inner end 38of the other arm a-nd' inthis mantherespective pairs of apertured ears, and

the slotted inner ends of the arms of the U- shaped frame. One end ofeach axial coil spring engages with the base portion of the respectiveside bar, while the other end portion of said spring extends along theouter face of the respective arm sections and a hook 43 is formed on thefree end of this portion of each spring as shown very clearly in Figure5, for a purpose to be later explained.

A flexible awning, such as a strip of canvas denoted by the numeral 44is stretched over the upper edge of the channel shaped strip 13 and theadjustable crown portion of the U-shaped frame, the upper edge portionof the canvas strip being adapted to be clamped against the bottom ofthe upper groove 4 formed in the top of the windowframe 1, as indicatedin Figure 6, while the lower edge portion of the canvas strip extendsacross the serrated edges 27 of the outermost channel shaped section 23,and a contractile coil spring 45 is stretched over the crown portion ofthe U-shaped frame for disposition in the channel shaped sections of thebase or crown U-shaped frame, the respective ends of the coil springbeing detachably connected to the hooks 85, as clearly shown in Figure2, and the fringe 46 formed on the lower edge of the canvas strip willhang downwardly.

When the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 1, the axial coil springs42 will maintain the U-shaped awning frame, in a lowered horizontaloperative position so that the canvas strip 44 will be held taut and ina shad- I ing position.

When it is desired to raise the awning upwardly to an inoperativeposition, the hooks 43 associated with the horizontally extending armsof the axial coil springs 42, are disengaged from the channel shapedarms of the sides of the U-shaped frame, and the frame may then be swungupwardly on the pivot forming pins or bolts 40 and 41, to the posi tionshown in the dotted lines, in Figure 6.

When the frame is in this position, the

same is moved vertically in a downward position so that the pivotforming bolts will be disposed in the uppermost ends of the slots 37 and39 respectively and the upper edge portions of the flattened inner ends36 and 88 respectively will be in engagement with the base portions ofthe channel shaped side bars 6 and 7, thus locking the U-shaped frameagainst outward swinging movement, until said frame is moved upwardly topermit the disposition of the pivot forming bolts in the lower ends ofthe slots, whereupon the rounded extremities of the flattened inner endsof the sectional arms of the U-shaped frame are capable of swingingmovement.

It will thus be seen from'the foregoing description that I have providedan awning structure that is capable of general use, and by reason of theadjustable fittings, the awning structure may be mounted upon windowframes of various widths.

An awning, structure of the above mentioned character is particularlyadapted to be used upon the window frames of the door of an automobileof the closed type and when in position, the structure will notinterfere withthe opening or closing of the sliding window pane.Furthermore, the structure can be readily and easily attached or removedwith respect to the window frame, and by reason of its simplicity, thesame can be readily and easily adjusted whenever necessary.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that minor changes in the size, shape and ar rangement ofparts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: '1. In anawning construction for grooved window frames, a pair of verticallydisposed side bars, a cross member interconnecting the side bars attheir upper ends, slidable fittings carried by the ends of each side barfor dis position in the adjacent side grooves in the window frame, meansfor moving the fittings into frictional engagement with the bottomsbars, and capable of vertical swinging movement, and an awning securedat its lower end over the base portion of the U-shaped frame,

the upper end of the awning extending over the upper edge of the crossbar and adapted to be clamped in the top groove in the window frame. v j

2. An awning structure for grooved window frames comprising a pair ofvertically disposed side bars, across member interconnecting the sidebars at their. upper ends,

movable fittings carried by the ends of each side bar for disposition inthe adjacent side grooves in the window frame, means for moving thefittings into frictional engagement with the'bottoms of the grooves,anadjustable substantially U-shaped frame, the arms of said U-shapedframe being pivotally and slidably connected at their free endportionsto the respective side bars, an awning secured at its lower endover the base portion of the U-shaped frame, the upper end of the awningbeing disposed over the upper edge of the cross bar and adapted to beclamped in the top groove formed in the window frame, and

means for holding the frame in a lowered horizontal operative position,the ends of the arms of the U-shaped frame cooperating with therespective side bars to lock the frame in a r'aised inoperative positionwhen the frame is'moved downwardly while in its vertical position.

'3. An awning construction for grooved 5 window frames comprising a pairof vertically disposed side bars,'means for adjustably interconnectingsaid bars at their upper ends, said means including a pair of rodssecured at their outer ends to the upper ends of the respective sidebars, the inner ends of said I bars being threaded in oppositedirections, a turn buckle for receiving the oppositely threaded ends ofthe rods, adjustable fittings carried by the ends of each side bar, andadapted to be positioned in the side grooves of the windowframe forsupporting the bars in a rigid position, a substantially U-shaped frame,the free ends of the'arms thereof being pivotally secured to therespective side bars, and an awning secured at its lower end to thecrown portion of the U-shaped frame, the upper end of the awningextending over the connecting means for the upper ends of the side bars,and adapted to be clamped in the upper groove in the window frame.

4. An awning construction comprising a pair of'spaced vertical sidebars, an adjustable member interconnecting the upper ends of the sidebars, a substantially U-shaped frame including a pair of longitudinallyadjustable crown forming sections, the outer ends of said sections beingdisposed rearwardly, a pair of arm forming sections adjustablyconnectedto the respective rearwardly extending 7 ends of the crownforming sections, the rear ends of the arm forming sections beingslotted, apertured ears formed on the side bars, bolts extending throughthe apertured ears, and the respective slotted ends of the arm formingsect-ions, an awning secured at its lower end to the crown port-ion ofthe U- shaped frameand at its upper end to the cross member thatinterconnects the side bars, and axial coil springs associated with therespective bolts for holding the U-shaped frame in a lower horizontaloperative position, said springs permitting the frame to be loweredwhile in a Vertical position to lock the frame against outward swingingmove- 1 ment with respect to the side bars.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

OTTO L. MOELLER.

